Mass. GOP weekend rallies aim to stir interest

Friday

Mar 7, 2014 at 11:20 PM

By John J. Monahan TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

BOSTON — The state Republican Party is kicking off a string of candidate rallies starting with one today in Shrewsbury, hoping to stir enthusiasm for a March 22 nominating convention at which delegates will decide whether to allow Mark Fisher to mount a primary challenge to front-runner Charles D. Baker Jr.

For Mr. Fisher, a tea party Republican who owns an Auburn metal fabrication company, the rally will be a chance to encourage potential delegates to help him get the 15 percent of the vote at the convention needed to force a Sept. 9 primary.

Otherwise, Mr. Baker will again have a straight shot in his campaign for governor, as he did four years ago after delegates in Worcester gave challenger Christy P. Mihos only 11 percent of the vote, denying him a bid for a GOP primary.

Mr. Baker is not expected at a 2 p.m. rally at the Italian-American Victory Club, 26 Dewey Road, Shrewsbury, but speakers will include lieutenant governor candidate Karyn Polito, U.S. Senate candidate Brian Herr, state auditor candidate Patricia Saint Aubin, treasurer candidate Mike Heffernan and secretary of state candidate David D'Arcangleo.

GOP Chairwoman Kirsten Hughes said it's not at all clear whether there will be a GOP primary for governor, and it remains up to as many as 3,000 delegates who may attend the convention at the Agganis Arena in Boston.

"I don't know. We will see when the votes get cast at the convention. I don't see a primary, but you never know at these things," Ms. Hughes said. "There is a certain benefit to not having a primary. It gives the nominee a chance to spend their money and sharpen their message against the other side they will face in the general election," she said.

Tim Buckley, Mr. Baker's spokesman, said Mr. Baker remains focused on the November campaign and meeting as many Republican, Independent or Democrat voters as possible and not the challenge from Mr. Fisher.

"It's hard to say what is going to happen, but either way it doesn't really change our game plan," Mr. Buckley said. "It's obviously up to the delegates at the convention. Our focus is really on November," he said.

While less known around the state, Mr. Fisher brings an appeal to more conservative activists in the party, and by supporting traditional marriage and a ban on abortion, lays claim to being the candidate who supports the entire state party platform.

"I really believe a primary makes both candidates better, and voters can decide who the best one is," Mr. Fisher said.

He has gotten some tea party support and most recently received the endorsement of the Massachusetts Republican Assembly, a state branch of the National Federation of Republican Assembly that supports conservative Republican candidates around the country. Mr. Baker did not attend the group's convention last month in Worcester, where Mr. Fisher's opposition to abortion was contrasted to Mr. Baker's pro-choice position.

Mr. Fisher is uncertain whether the delegates will let a more conservative candidate like himself challenge Mr. Baker in a primary.

"We are calling the delegates and have received a good response and from what we are seeing there should be no problem," Mr. Fisher said of his ongoing efforts to rally at least 15 percent of the delegates to his cause. The problem, he said, is that many delegates that may support him are not going to the convention.

"That is a big part of getting the 15 percent — not just convincing them about me as a candidate, but getting them there," he said.

"For people out in Western parts of the state there are a couple of things that are driving people away from the convention. One is the distance to travel. Two it's the $85 fee for delegates they have to pay" to the party, he said. "They have to park in Boston and drive all the way in and out, so some people aren't going," Mr. Fisher said.

"We are doing things to get them there. There are hardship forms they can file to get the fee either greatly reduced or eliminated," he said. He said his campaign is organizing carpools and shuttles to make it an easier trip for some delegates, hoping to get as many of his supporters as he can to the one-day convention.

Mr. Fisher said he is still hoping for a chance to debate Mr. Baker before the convention, but the Baker campaign has not agreed to a debate.

"You would think we would have a debate prior to the convention so that people could see the two candidates," Mr. Fisher said.

Mr. Buckley acknowledged that Mr. Baker has avoided a debate before the convention but said the two have appeared together at events, including some of the recent local party caucuses and at a Massachusetts Municipal Association convention forum in January.